antique porcelain toxicity? safe to drink from old ceramic?

collector wrote:.........if the rim is gold colour, there is also risk.

Fired gold luster is not usually fluxed with lead...when fired it is usually about 20 to 22 karat gold. So that should not be an issue. And the amount of surface area actually covered by that material is usually VERY minimal anyway.

I am not a expert, but I would imagine, that Tea may be an effectivechelating substance.Simply speaking, a chelating agent "disarms" free radicals (nasty critters) by locking them up (in larger molecules). I hope I am not treading on too many liberal toes - but is this not precisely what tea is supposed to do?

I never really thought of tea being basically 'republican', I do know however, that some sort of mould was named after Mr. Rumsfeld - perhapsit would improve some of my spoilt (cheap) puerhs ....

collector wrote:Do you know if there are effective chelating natural elements?

collector,

I can speak reasonably well on issues of ceramic toxicology and the technical side of ceramic process. As to making treatment suggestions or recommendations.......

That would get into practicing medicine without a license.

I really do not know much about chellation therapy. I'd suggest consulting a medical professional about such matters. With something as significant as lead poisoning, treatment should be taken very seriously and you should become very well informed about it. (Remember there a "quacks" out there that can cure everything and that just love to take your money.)

I certainly am not technically trained, and unless I want to test everything before using (cannot before buying), I paint this rule with a broad stroke as a result. Some common sense and "general" info found here on TC is all most of us can go by.

collector wrote:.........if the rim is gold colour, there is also risk.

Fired gold luster is not usually fluxed with lead...when fired it is usually about 20 to 22 karat gold. So that should not be an issue. And the amount of surface area actually covered by that material is usually VERY minimal anyway.